Suicide blast in Afghan capital, some casualties

Kabul, Sep 30: A suicide bomber set off explosives in front of the Interior Ministry in Kabul today, causing several casualties, police in the Afghan capital said.

''It was a suicide attack. The bomber blew himself up as ministry employees were getting off a bus at the ministry gate,'' said senior police official Alishah Paktiawal.

Paktiawal said some policemen were among the casualties but he had no further information.

The blast damaged small shops near the ministry gate, a witness said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Taliban insurgents, battling to oust foreign forces and defeat the Western-backed government, have in the past claimed numerous similar attacks.

Afghanistan is experiencing the most serious violence since the hardline Taliban were ousted in 2001.

Reuters